By: Evan Robb
A new school year brings excitement, possibility, and a familiar challenge: we are often asked to add more before we have considered what we need to release.
Metaphorically speaking, our plates only have so much room. We cannot continue piling on new initiatives, expectations, and responsibilities without asking an important question:
What do I need to let go of to make room for what matters most?
Sometimes the things we hold onto are valuable. They may have brought us success in the past. They may even be part of our identity. But something can be meaningful and still no longer serve us.
Years ago, I heard a story that has stayed with me. It is a story about courage, change, and the freedom that comes from letting go.
A group of people were on a boat several miles from shore. A celebration was taking place, and everyone was enjoying themselves. One woman stood out because of the large, beautiful necklace she wore around her neck. It was obvious how much the necklace meant to her.
As the celebration continued, the water became rougher. Many people, including the woman with the necklace, were standing near the railing. Suddenly, a large wave struck the boat, and the woman fell overboard.
Several people rushed to help. A man grabbed a life preserver and leaned over the railing to throw it toward her. As she struggled in the water, he yelled:
“Take off the necklace! You will be able to float toward the boat, and I can save you!”
The woman disappeared beneath the water for a moment and then surfaced.
“I’ve had this necklace my entire life,” she shouted. “I can’t do it.”
And that is where the story ends.
The woman faced a choice: hold onto something familiar and precious, or let it go and give herself a chance to survive.
As educators and leaders, we face similar choices every year.
What are the necklaces we are wearing? What are the things we hold tightly that may be preventing us from moving forward?
Here are five questions worth considering:
1. Is it still serving students today, or did it simply work well in the past?
Education changes because students change. There are practices, materials, and traditions we may love because they were part of our success. But the question is not, “Did this work before?”
The better question is:
Does this help students learn today?
As a teacher, I had books and lessons I loved. Over time, I realized my attachment to those materials was stronger than my students’ connection to them. Letting go created opportunities for deeper engagement.
2. Are there instructional practices we continue because they are comfortable rather than effective?
Every profession has traditions. Some deserve to be protected. Others deserve to be examined.
Great educators are not afraid to ask:
Is this the best way, or simply the way we have always done it?
Growth requires reflection and the courage to change.
3. Are we spending time on things that consume energy but create little impact?
One of the greatest challenges educators face is time.
I once knew a teacher who regularly arrived exhausted because he spent hours every night grading student journals. When I asked about the purpose, he struggled to explain how the feedback was improving student learning.
Sometimes we hold onto practices because they feel responsible, even when they no longer produce meaningful results.
4. What do we need to release to embrace new opportunities?
Technology, including artificial intelligence, is transforming education. The goal is not to replace teachers; the goal is to empower teachers.
But innovation requires space.
What practices, assumptions, or fears do we need to release so we can explore new possibilities?
5. Is our mindset helping us lead, or holding us back?
Leadership begins with self-awareness.
Our attitude influences our classrooms, our schools, and the people around us. Optimism does not mean ignoring challenges. It means believing that improvement is possible.
Every school year offers a fresh opportunity to choose growth.
So as you begin this year, consider this:
What necklace are you carrying that you are finally ready to remove?
Letting go is not about abandoning what matters. It is about creating space for what matters most.
Be courageous. Take risks. Challenge assumptions. Continue learning.
Our students deserve educators and leaders who are willing to grow.
For more thoughts on leadership, culture, and instructional excellence, see my book, The Ten-Minute Principal, published by Corwin.
